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Francisco G. Cornelius

Location: Retreat, Cape Town, South Africa

Biography
I started in the field of Child and Youth Care in 1989 after serving the S. A. Navy for 2 years, in the insurance field for 3 years and working in the petrol industry for 7½ years. Like so many other child and youth care workers I saw the advert and decided to visit the place where the post was advertised. Almost instantly I felt that I could do this ‘job’. So without any training I worked as a child care worker and after two or three weeks enrolled to study the diploma in child care (NHCRCC) at Cape Technikon in 1990. I completed these studies in December 1991. I have been in the field for 21 years.

In 1992 I completed the NACCW Training of Trainers course and facilitated various courses to child and youth care workers and others in the field, across the country. Many of the courses were not catering for Afrikaans-speaking people and I was the only facilitator that facilitated the courses in the Northern and Western Cape where it was requested.

Through seeking constant opportunities to expand my worldview in the field I completed numerous short courses and simultaneously accepted many offers of promotion in my journey. After nearly 9 years at Boys Town S. A. in Cape Town I got a job in the Department of Social Development at a Place of Safety in Wynberg. After one year I was offered a middle management position at the first Secure Care Centre in Kroonstad in the Free State Province. After 3 years I accepted a post to manage a Therapeutic Centre in Bloemfontein in the Free State Province. After almost fours years in this post I moved back to Cape Town to a take up position as Project Manager with the NACCW for three years.

I also held the position of Regional Chairperson of the NACCW Free State Region from 1999 until 2003. Whilst doing this I was the only trainer/facilitator in the Free State Province who trained all workers in the child and youth care field in the province. In June 2003 I was elected as the National Chairperson of the NACCW and held this position until March 2006. From August 2006 to 31st July 2009 I was a contract employee of the NACCW in Cape Town working on various Projects. I managed the Volunteer Mentor Program that saw 1500 volunteers across the country trained in specific modules in child and youth care, I still serve on the National Child Protection committees, I consult with the National DSD Youth Directorate on Youth Development and currently I do the same in the Western Cape as well.

In August 2009 I took up a position as the Director of Leliebloem House Children’s Home in Crawford, Cape Town. This Children’s Home renders services to children and youth from 4yrs to 18yrs who come from all over the Western Cape. Whilst the focus of children’s services should be on prevention and intervention it is unfortunate that many of these children are removed from their homes and communities because of inadequate services in the local communities.

I have decided to study this year and I am now doing my Honours in ABET at UCT. I must admit that it feels very new to me after having not studied for many years apart from the occasional short course in the field.

A favorite saying

'Determination is stopping at nothing and doing what in your heart you know is right'

In child care we often find it very difficult to deal with the children’s challenges and will do everything in our power to ensure that the children get what they need right now, no matter what.

A few thoughts about child and youth care

• I can’t imagine not doing it, is just feels like the best thing that has happened for me.

• It is hard work most of the time.

• It is growing and expanding so fast these days it is hard to keep up.

Last thing I read, watched, heard, which I would recommend to others

I watched an old movie The Sound of Music …Yeah. Well I needed to take care of myself and just be rejuvenated and because I love music this was just the right medicine for me. You should try it …

A favorite Child and Youth Care experience
As a trainer/facilitator, I was always searching for stories from CYCW’s … the one story that stuck was the one of a person who assisted the CYCW with cooking but she was working in the children’s’ home for many years (20yrs) so she was given the opportunity to do the BQCC. She related her story that goes like this: “I was busy cleaning the lounge area and heard these two 8 year old boys screaming and arguing outside. I went out and sat both of them down on the ground on either side of me … I asked them what this rumpus was all about and you know both shouted at me that it was the other one that was taking their ‘things’… of course I didn’t quite know what to do … so I asked them to be quiet and listen to what I want to say … I didn’t say a word but I decided to draw a circle in the sand and started creating a face … both kept very still and watched …I asked the one to give me the hose pipe and slowly turn on the water and asked the other to stand and watch the face … of course they both looked very surprised at all of this but did what I asked of them. I started spraying the water over the face and suddenly pointed the hose in the air so that it ‘rained’ on us … this sparked off some laughter because the two boys forgot about their squabbles and joined in messing with the water … she concludes by saying that she thought that she will take their minds off their arguing and calm them down by having some fun with them … it worked for her and the boys and she managed to get the boys to play together again. This message is that she acted in the moment and displayed very good child and youth care qualities without even been exposed to the theory of the elements of child and youth care.

A few thoughts for those starting out

• There are many challenges daily and this will continue but, don’t try to do all alone, you need the support of the team.

• Get used to writing down things; it will benefit you in the long run.

• Whilst planning is important; get used to deal with matters one day at a time.

• Make time to rejuvenate yourself; time out; gym; sing; play away from your place of work.

International and national achievements
2002: Delegate to Black Hills Seminars in South Dakota.
2003: Delegate to International Conference in Victoria, BC, Canada where I was a member of a team who presented on: the Transformation of Child and Youth Care in South Africa.
2004: The only African Delegate to the FICE Conference in Scotland. My paper was on: African connections and Transformation of Child and Youth Care in South Africa. I also led the plenary discussion on the final day of that conference along with Princess Anne of England and four international delegates.
2005: I was the conference Chairperson at the NACCW conference in Cape Town.
2007: I was facilitator and convener of the NACCW Youth conference in Durban.
2008: I presented a conference paper at Department of Social Development National Conference: The parallel between child and youth care and youth work.
2008: I co-facilitated at the International FICE conference in Finland and took two young people from Kimberley South Africa on this conference.
2009: I presented a conference paper at the WC Youth Seminars on: Youth Development work and the need to network.
2009: I delivered a paper at the National DSD conference on: The Need for Strengthening Youth Work.

Recommended Child and Youth Care reading link
The Learning Zone Network www.learningzonenetwork.org I think allows opportunities for child and youth care workers to read more on training for those working in the field.

My favorite Child and Youth Care related link (after CYC-Net)
I very much like the www.naccw.org.za because it keeps me up to date with the current practices here in RSA.

Anything else
I consider myself to be very young in the field and can certainly make some valuable contributions to child and youth care. I am encouraged by the dedication of the community child and youth care workers who are not financially better off than those working in the residential facilities or even those working in government facilities, but they have energy, spirit and a will to ensure that those in need of care get the best possible assistance in shortest available time.

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